IT TOOK three attempts over ten days, but Oxford United's FA Cup tie at Charlton Athletic was worth the wait as both sides rose above a terrible playing surface to produce an enthralling game.

The visitors came within seven minutes of an upset and a place in the fourth round, but Yann Kermorgant's strike set up a replay at the Kassam Stadium next Tuesday.

A draw was the least United deserved from an assured display.

They went in at half-time 2-0 up thanks to goals from Johnny Mullins and Scott Davies.

Charlton were second best before Michael Morrison's header early in the second half put them back into the game.

And the Championship club went on to push the U's back, claiming an equaliser in the closing stages.

United boss Chris Wilder shuffled his pack, making four changes to the side which started Saturday's goalless draw with Portsmouth.

Tyrone Marsh and James Constable came in up front, while Davies and Josh Ruffels began in midfield.

Both sides took the opening few minutes to acclimatise themselves with the conditions on an extremely heavy pitch.

Johnnie Jackson headed an early chance just wide from Laurie Wilson's cross, before United took charge.

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The visitors adjusted quicker to the conditions, taking no risks in their own half and looking to give the front two balls to chase.

From one of those, Constable's hard work forced a corner on 13 minutes.

The initial delivery was cleared back to Davies, whose cross fell kindly to Mullins. He did not strike his shot cleanly, but the ball ricocheted off Michael Morrison and past wrong-footed goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

Mullins wheeled away to celebrate his first goal since September - and the centre back's evening got even better 11 minutes later.

Playing in midfield for the second successive game, he robbed a dawdling Jordan Cousins just inside the Charlton half and found Constable.

The striker wasted no time in sliding a pass to Davies on the overlap and after taking a touch to steady himself, he buried a shot past Hamer.

United were oozing confidence and almost added a third just after the half hour mark when Sean Rigg's curler narrowly missed the target.

Charlton began to assert themselves in the final ten minutes of the half.

Simon Church, who scored twice in the Addicks' 4-0 Capital One Cup win against the U's in August, had an opening when he neatly collected a cross, but Jake Wright slammed the door shut with a well-timed tackle.

The United skipper got a let-off a minute later when he appeared to handle in the box, before looking up to see referee Stephen Martin waving away Charlton's protests for a penalty.

The hosts were booed off at the break and began the second half looking like a team in a hurry.

Within eight minutes the Championship side were back in the game, when Morrison got free at a corner to bury a header past Ryan Clarke.

United immediately replaced Marsh with Smalley and the substitute was involved in a move on the hour which ended when Hamer tipped Constable's header round the post.

Although Charlton looked more dangerous than in the first half, they did not have it their own way.

United looked a threat on the counter-attack, particularly through the lively Rigg.

But they could not fashion a good chance and as the half wore on, the home side built up a head of steam.

With seven minutes remaining the pressure told, as substitute Danny Green got the better of Tom Newey and crossed for Kermorgant to volley home an equaliser.

The home side almost nicked a winner in stoppage time, but David Hunt was in the right place to block Callum Harriott's goal-bound header.

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Comments (8)

Credit where credit is due, a cracking first half from OU, had Rigg got the third I don't think Charlton would have come back but unfortunately they did. This was a typical away display, full of energy and endeavour, sadly the second half didn't match the first but that's no disrespect to OU. They tried and maybe, just maybe can get through the replay, I personally still think the League is more important but it's a bit more money in the bank if, and it's a big if, people turn up. On this performance things don't look as bleak as they did after Saturday but as I say, it's the league and promotion that's important. More of the same at Wycombe please. And again, well done tonight!

Credit where credit is due, a cracking first half from OU, had Rigg got the third I don't think Charlton would have come back but unfortunately they did. This was a typical away display, full of energy and endeavour, sadly the second half didn't match the first but that's no disrespect to OU. They tried and maybe, just maybe can get through the replay, I personally still think the League is more important but it's a bit more money in the bank if, and it's a big if, people turn up. On this performance things don't look as bleak as they did after Saturday but as I say, it's the league and promotion that's important. More of the same at Wycombe please. And again, well done tonight!Richard Wickson

Credit where credit is due, a cracking first half from OU, had Rigg got the third I don't think Charlton would have come back but unfortunately they did. This was a typical away display, full of energy and endeavour, sadly the second half didn't match the first but that's no disrespect to OU. They tried and maybe, just maybe can get through the replay, I personally still think the League is more important but it's a bit more money in the bank if, and it's a big if, people turn up. On this performance things don't look as bleak as they did after Saturday but as I say, it's the league and promotion that's important. More of the same at Wycombe please. And again, well done tonight!

Score: 13

Davos P says...11:25pm Tue 14 Jan 14

Getting results like this prove that this team can get us promoted. Need that belief and hunger at home and we can go on a good run back into the automatic places. COYY

Getting results like this prove that this team can get us promoted. Need that belief and hunger at home and we can go on a good run back into the automatic places. COYYDavos P

Getting results like this prove that this team can get us promoted. Need that belief and hunger at home and we can go on a good run back into the automatic places. COYY

Score: 12

BenkiuGuasu says...2:15am Wed 15 Jan 14

Excellent performance and excellent determination to win balls throughout the 90 minutes. Weak link for us (sadly) was definitely Tyrone Marsh. Really don't think he is up to professional football. Charlton didn't deserve a draw, even if their second goal was real quality. Don't be too shocked if we see a tired performance on Saturday. Sean RIgg especially must be knackered. What a man of match performance by him!

Excellent performance and excellent determination to win balls throughout the 90 minutes.
Weak link for us (sadly) was definitely Tyrone Marsh. Really don't think he is up to professional football.
Charlton didn't deserve a draw, even if their second goal was real quality.
Don't be too shocked if we see a tired performance on Saturday. Sean RIgg especially must be knackered. What a man of match performance by him!BenkiuGuasu

Excellent performance and excellent determination to win balls throughout the 90 minutes. Weak link for us (sadly) was definitely Tyrone Marsh. Really don't think he is up to professional football. Charlton didn't deserve a draw, even if their second goal was real quality. Don't be too shocked if we see a tired performance on Saturday. Sean RIgg especially must be knackered. What a man of match performance by him!

Score: 8

1willowsj says...7:25am Wed 15 Jan 14

I wasn't at the game so maybe I am in no position to comment. However, it sounds as though Davies had a decent game I can't help but wonder whether he's due more playing time in the league, after all, arguably, he was our bright light in a bleak end of last season? Thoughts? Feel he definitely offers something more creative! In any case, I'd be tempted to stick the same XI out Saturday (at least for the start) as they definitely deserve it!

I wasn't at the game so maybe I am in no position to comment. However, it sounds as though Davies had a decent game I can't help but wonder whether he's due more playing time in the league, after all, arguably, he was our bright light in a bleak end of last season? Thoughts? Feel he definitely offers something more creative!
In any case, I'd be tempted to stick the same XI out Saturday (at least for the start) as they definitely deserve it!1willowsj

I wasn't at the game so maybe I am in no position to comment. However, it sounds as though Davies had a decent game I can't help but wonder whether he's due more playing time in the league, after all, arguably, he was our bright light in a bleak end of last season? Thoughts? Feel he definitely offers something more creative! In any case, I'd be tempted to stick the same XI out Saturday (at least for the start) as they definitely deserve it!

Score: 1

horsham says...8:17am Wed 15 Jan 14

Well done to the Oxford team and to all the supporters that made the trip. Away form amazing, need to repeat that at home!

Well done to the Oxford team and to all the supporters that made the trip. Away form amazing, need to repeat that at home!horsham

Well done to the Oxford team and to all the supporters that made the trip. Away form amazing, need to repeat that at home!

Score: 7

Doctor69 says...8:24am Wed 15 Jan 14

Fair play. Decent result. Why are we so negative and poor at home though?

Fair play. Decent result.
Why are we so negative and poor at home though?Doctor69

Fair play. Decent result. Why are we so negative and poor at home though?

Score: 4

Great Catches says...9:59am Wed 15 Jan 14

Oxford played very well in the first half, chased everything, closed down well and were certainly worth of a 2-0 lead at half time. Second half was different, Charlton were obviuosly going to come out fighting, could have won it near the end but 2-2 a fair result. I agree that March hasnt got it, not nearly strong enough and didnt really have the pace to frighten defenders either. Wright and Davies were top class and Beano did great. With this sort of commitment hopefully we can get back to winning ways in the league

Oxford played very well in the first half, chased everything, closed down well and were certainly worth of a 2-0 lead at half time. Second half was different, Charlton were obviuosly going to come out fighting, could have won it near the end but 2-2 a fair result. I agree that March hasnt got it, not nearly strong enough and didnt really have the pace to frighten defenders either. Wright and Davies were top class and Beano did great. With this sort of commitment hopefully we can get back to winning ways in the leagueGreat Catches

Oxford played very well in the first half, chased everything, closed down well and were certainly worth of a 2-0 lead at half time. Second half was different, Charlton were obviuosly going to come out fighting, could have won it near the end but 2-2 a fair result. I agree that March hasnt got it, not nearly strong enough and didnt really have the pace to frighten defenders either. Wright and Davies were top class and Beano did great. With this sort of commitment hopefully we can get back to winning ways in the league

Score: 6

BigAlBiker says...10:29pm Wed 15 Jan 14

I see the prices for the replay are well expensive, top seats £20.50 which I reckon is a bit steep. But I have my ticket already.

I see the prices for the replay are well expensive, top seats £20.50 which I reckon is a bit steep.
But I have my ticket already.BigAlBiker

I see the prices for the replay are well expensive, top seats £20.50 which I reckon is a bit steep. But I have my ticket already.

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